iGooseneck – The Thought Short Flexible Neck By FastCap

Are you looking for a very short flexible stem for your action camera or other small devices?

The iGooseneck might be the tool you need and beyond.

The iGooseneck is a flexible mounting post measuring 7.6 cm (3”) in length with 1/4″-20 threads on both ends. It’s made of metal with a type of copper alloy core wrapped by plastic. The flat surface where the head of the iGooseneck meet the device is padded with a type of rubber as expected with any product intended to be used with electronic devices.
I have been using the iGooseneck for all types of applications since July 2016 and it performs very well but it is limited with weight capacity as with any small tools. However the fact it holds much heavier devices than its intended use is a bonus and I will do my best to give a review where you can use it to make a choice depending on your needs.

If you plan on using the iGooseneck with an action camera it will render service adequately. With today’s action cameras averaging 100 grams (0.22 lbs)) the iGooseneck is strong enough to keep them in position despite ongoing activities and to date with all the trials I can say it takes a very strong and abrupt movement to sway it out of its position, such as a fall or rough landing after a high jump. Thus, when used with action cameras or other devices below 100 grams the iGooseneck performs.
With slightly heavier devices such as the newest generation smartphones (~130 grams (0.29 lbs)) the iGooseneck holds its position just as well although once in a while the position of the flexible stem shifted under some conditions, such as making a stuck landing after jumping over a fence. Inside a moving vehicle and riding on a somewhat very bad road even driving aggressively does not move the stem of the iGooseneck and that’s good news for those who would like to use their smartphone or similar weighing devices for recoding vehicle related videos.

And Beyond…

As with anyone who like to experiment I used the iGooseneck with my full size camera and to my surprise it works somewhat well despite the camera weighing nearly ~650 g (1.43 lb.). That’s roughly six times the weight of a typical action camera or six times the advertised intended use.
When using a heavy camera or other objects in this weight category (~650 g) the iGooseneck can hold position but if the flexible neck is at an angle and you walk it may shift position. Straight up or positioned at a very small angle it will hold much better. My bridge camera attached to my table top tripod via the iGooseneck renders service adequately but I have to warn that the iGooseneck wasn’t designed for objects in this weight category thus small accidental or intentional moves bend the iGooseneck rather easily and trying to position the camera past 45 degrees hardly holds, but will set nonetheless. However when operating the camera buttons one must hold the device or it will move. I can imagine cameras or other devices surpassing 650 g will lose grip completely rendering the iGooseneck totally useless.
If you plan on manipulating and/or pressing buttons on a heavy camera while the iGooseneck is set at a heavy angle expect a momentarily wobble each time you release the camera. In fact it is so touchy with heavy cameras that if using a bridge camera for example one needs to set the timer for at least five seconds or use a remote shutter controller because when the shutter button is pressed manually the camera wobbles momentarily and that’s not desirable. Even with this little caveat images are sharp once the perceivable wobble stops because there are no other micro shakes going on thus good enough for macro photography if you wish. Even so I don’t suggest for professional use with heavy devices due to its fidgetiness which result in loss of time due to repeated readjustments and loss of exact frame positioning if that is important as well.
With devices such as an iPad the iGooseneck will hold it as with the camera but here the touchscreen isn’t a factor as much as camera buttons thus will perform better even at 90 degree angle. However that wobble upon touching a heavy device still remains.

Ideal usage?

– the iGooseneck will perform surprisingly well practicing almost any sports including underwater sports (tested only in brackish and soft water) with action cameras or other very light devices under 100g.
– between 100g and 200g the iGooseneck will perform similarly to lighter devices but taking great care to avoid shakes.
– 200g and beyond the iGooseneck will hold better or worst under different circumstances and repositioning becomes a habit.

A perfect example of the flexibility of this tool – to be a sound boom flexible microphone neck.
Take note on the photo above the makeshift sound boom pole head does not permit me to point my ZOOM H1 sound recorder/microphone towards the ground. This is important since the microphone is above the subject the microphone must point downwards and the iGooseneck permits me to do this. Another little advantage I haven’t had the chance to test further for confirmation is that together with the MOVO shock mount the iGooseneck further shields the vibration coming from the pole manipulation making low rumbles impossible to perceive and that’s a good thing.

Product Notice and Recommendation

As with all products and ideas nothing is perfect and the iGooseneck as one discernable problem for my standard.
As you can see with the image above the way the iGooseneck is designed the center core overhang either side of the base after some manipulation. I never had any trouble as my tripod socket is made of metal but I have seen cameras with plastic socket so be careful when tightening both object together as the core of the flexible stem can damage plastics over time. If you unscrew and screw the iGooseneck very often and do manipulate the flexible stem a lot you better make sure to tap the core back in by tapping it on a hard surface as needed – but not on your wooden table. ;)
My suggestion for this company is to enhance it with end screw caps to avoid the center core from protruding.
Also a caveat not related to the product itself but rather how the company markets this product is that the iGooseneck should be sold with a cheap female/female 1/4-20 treaded adapter for higher flexibility out of the box and because once marketed towards slightly heavier devices this product has bigger sale potential.

With the end screw caps fix and with a female/female 1/4-20 treaded adapter I would not hesitate paying three times the price as it is that solid, that performing. Any other use with heavier devices is just a bonus of a well-made product and at 4.95 USD it is a good deal.

You can find the iGooseneck in many fine stores such as Adorama and B&H.